Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Noble metal quantum dots for nanomedicine(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Albalawi, Mohammed; Yu, ChenFluorescent, biocompatible metal nanoclusters offer a promising platform for optical sensing. Here, glutathione-stabilized gold nanoclusters (GSH–AuNCs) were synthesized and their photophysics systematically tuned by post-synthetic metal additions. Pristine GSH–AuNCs showed a distinct UV–Vis feature near 365 nm, strong red emission centered at ~634 nm, and a multi-exponential lifetime with ⟨τ⟩ ≈ 131 ns. Optical responses were quantified by steady-state fluorescence, excitation–emission matrices (EEM), UV–Vis (500–700 nm), and time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC, Δ-diode 374 nm). Adding Ag⁺ (1–20 µL) produced an immediate red shift (to ~645 nm from 3 µL) and a marked intensity increase that peaked at ~16 µL, followed by a decline at 18–20 µL. Lifetimes lengthened with the growth of long-lived components (⟨τ⟩ ≈ 1.16 µs at 20 µL Ag⁺), consistent with surface passivation and formation of Au–Ag motifs that stabilize LMCT-type emissive states. In contrast, Cu²⁺ (1–6 µL) caused strong, largely monotonic quenching with only minor wavelength changes and a shorter average lifetime (⟨τ⟩ ≈ 117 ns), indicating additional non-radiative decay pathways introduced by Cu–ligand coordination. Post-synthetic Au dosing was performed on Ag-modified clusters (20 µL Ag⁺ baseline) to examine surface reorganization; this step forms mixed Au/Ag/Au nanoclusters rather than regenerating the pristine AuNCs. Upon adding 1–8 µL Au, the fluorescence increased and blue-shifted toward 616–622 nm; spectra acquired at a 2.0-nm emission slit were intensity-converted to the 3.5-nm standard with a calibrated factor (A₃․₅/A₂ = 2.7207). The lifetime for 20 µL Ag⁺ + 8 µL Au shortened to ⟨τ⟩ ≈ 89.5 ns, indicating enhancement via a higher radiative rate rather than excited-state prolongation. Across all series, UV–Vis showed no plasmon band, ruling out growth of large nanoparticles and pointing to surface- chemistry control. Together, these results demonstrate that selective coordination/alloying (Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Au) provides a practical handle to brighten, red/blue-shift, or quench GSH– AuNC emission in a predictable way; the tunability and stability highlight Au/Ag/Au and Ag-modified GSH–AuNCs as adaptable optical probes with clear potential for analyte sensing in biologically relevant media.17 0Item Restricted How could HR practices be implemented in recruitment and selection to enable best practices towards diversity in organisations in Saudi Arabia?(Swansea University, 2024) Albalawi, Mohammed; Pritchard, KatrinaThis study explores the role of human resource (HR) practices in recruitment and selection to maximise diversity, including gender diversity, in organisations with a specific focus on Saudi Arabia. The research highlights the importance of diversity in enhancing innovation, creativity and organisational performance. It examines the formats in which cultural, legal, and organisational challenges impact the implementation of diversity strategies in the recruitment process. Drawing on theories such as Institutional Theory, Human Resource Management (HRM) Theory, and Diversity Management Theory, the research identifies the benefits of diverse workforces and the barriers posed by deeprooted cultural norms (e.g., gender roles and tribal affiliations). Through following systematic literature review methodology, this research included 60 studies. Key findings suggest that diversity promotes creativity and better decision-making; nevertheless, it indicated that achieving it in Saudi organisations requires overcoming societal bias and adapting global diversity practices to the local context. Moreover, the study explores the tension between merit-based and diversity-based recruitment, which has emphasised the need for HR managers to find a balance between fairness and inclusivity. Recommendations include adopting blind recruitment practices, creating inclusive job descriptions, providing diversity training for HR professionals and implementing targeted recruitment strategies. The research contributes to the existing literature by addressing the limited studies on diversity in recruitment and selection in Saudi Arabia, mainly in non-Western contexts. It identifies gaps in current practices and suggests areas for future research, like the exploration of other dimensions of diversity, as is the case in disability and age and the role of leadership in promoting inclusive HR practices. Thus, this study provides thoughts into the ways through which organisations could embrace recruitment and selection processes with diversity goals to create inclusive workplaces in Saudi Arabia.18 0